FALLSTON, MD—In celebration of the grand re-opening of Heritage Mazda Bel Air at its new, state-of-the-art location at 1800 Belair Road in Fallston, Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz and Harford County Executive Barry Glassman joined representatives from Heritage Mazda and Vehicles for Change on Tuesday to present five cars to families who are currently dependent on public transportation.

“Part of our mission in Harford County is to lift folks up so they can enjoy all the great things the county has to offer,” said Harford County Executive Barry Glassman. “Thank you, Heritage and Vehicles for Change, for your work in the community and for your work lifting people up.”

The event was a continuation of a longstanding partnership between MileOne Autogroup, the parent company of Heritage, and Vehicles for Change – throughout which they have awarded more than 40 families with vehicles.

Both organizations believe that transportation is transformative and that with access to a vehicle, people are afforded the freedom to get to their jobs, schools, grocery stores, places of worship and health care facilities without having to rely on others for ways to get there.

“Vehicles for Change can’t do this alone, and without partners like Heritage and MileOne, we wouldn’t be helping as many families as we do,” said Martin Schwartz, president and founder of Vehicles for Change. “They go beyond just donating cars. When we need equipment, they find us equipment. When we have graduates of the Full Circle Auto Repair and Training Center, they find them jobs. Whenever we need something, they are there.”

Those who received vehicles included:

• Renata Hutchins, a mother of two, who works in Cecil County.
• Alexandra Alexander, a foster care awardee and hairstylist who works in Montgomery County.
• Jazmon Lankford, a mother of two, who is a teacher in Wicomico County.
• Aleshia Carroll, a mother of three, who works in Charles County.
• Fadina Middleton, a mother and Harford County resident who previously would have to walk one to two hours to her place of employment when buses weren’t running.

“We are proud to be a part of the Harford County community and to be able to help families here and across the region gain the freedom to do what they need and want to do through vehicle ownership,” said Constantine Spivak, divisional president of Heritage.